You can add photos of real world objects to your journal, thanks to the tablet's built in camera. (Source: Gizmodo)

The site's built in touch-driven browser lets you find even more content for your entries. (Source: Gizmodo)

More details emerge about Microsoft's Courier tablet

News of Microsoft's experimental
Courier tablet broke
last week and turned a number of heads. With Apple
reportedly racing
to release a similar tablet, Microsoft has stolen the thunder of its
competitor.

Speaking of which, it now appears the tablet's
interface is running on top of a modified version of Windows 7.
And it's reportedly a "incubation project" not a "Microsoft
Research project", meaning that it is headed towards a
commercial release. And according
toZDNet's Mary Jo-Foley that release will be coming in
mid-2010.

A new
video from Microsoft's Pioneer Studios revealed many details
about the new device. At its heart is the "Infinite
Journal" -- think Microsoft Office or OneNote on steroids.
Everything from meeting reminders to the browser, and even a
Photoshop-like stylus paint utility is tied into the journal.

Not
a virtual keyboard was in sight in the Infinite Journal demo -- all
text was entered via the Courier's stylus. You could flip
between pages in the journal, or you could switch to a browser and
flip through your favorites, in a format akin to Apple's much-touted
Cover Flow technology.

Anything you find online is journal
fodder -- you can drag images or text into your journal and add notes
to them. You can even remove part of photos and add your own
artistic finish. Cooler still, you can take a photo of an
object, and then it will be transferred to your journal. And
the journal has easy options to arrange the pictures you've
found.

You can share journal notes with your contacts (that
also come with jumbo color pictures flippable with the Cover
Flow-clone). And you can publish your entire journal online to
share with others. Reportedly, the journal will be publishable
in Courier, PDF, and PowerPoint formats.

According to ZDNet's
source, the tablet intentionally doesn't allow Windows 7 apps to be
installed, despite running on the OS. The source says that
early Microsoft tablet prototypes "failed because the
applications were not tailored to a tablet form factor - that is,
Word still had toolbars and menus and scrollbars. So, a tablet needs
to be like an iPhone - a UX that is specific for the form
factor."

Reportedly, Microsoft is excited enough about
the device that its not only targeting a release in under a year, but
it also may opt to produce it itself to get it to the market faster.
This is similar to the route Microsoft followed with the Xbox
360.

One thing's for sure, Microsoft's Windows 7-sporting dual
screen touch tablet screams cool and looks like a surefire hit if it
can live up to its demonstration video.

Comments

Threshold

Username

Password

remember me

This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled

Also, I don't think this is in any way stealing Apple's thunder. The way Apple's release schedule works, they could have it out within a few months of announcement. So even if Apple waits until early next year to announce, it could still beat Microsoft to the punch, stealing Courier's thunder.

Maybe the fact that Apple has ultimate say of what goes on YOUR hardware when it comes to the iTard Phone. every other platform out there allows the user the ability to install pretty much anything they want. (Or in Android's case click a checkmark and you have that ability.)

Or then there is the total random approval/disapproval methods that seem to be left in the hands of the person reviewing the app at Apple. Very similar to the individual power that was wheeled by the Gestapo during the early 40's.

Then there is the outright lies they are telling the FCC. Pending further review my ass.

The similarities may not be dead on. But close enough that its warranted. What is boils down to is Apple is worse then Microsoft ever was because they know their userbase will buy ANYTHING they put out no matter what. Hell I'd associate them with the Nazi Youth Movement.

quote: Or then there is the total random approval/disapproval methods that seem to be left in the hands of the person reviewing the app at Apple. Very similar to the individual power that was wheeled by the Gestapo during the early 40's.

Fantastic. Rarely has a a piece of nonsensical dumbness made me laugh out loud as much as your response just did. I wouldn't have believed it was possible but you actually got even sillier than your first comment. Do you mind me asking how old you are?

Your inane comment conjured up an image of a Gestapo goon interrogating the heroic resistance fighter tied to the chair in the dungeon, and he says "tell me vere your comrades are or I vill reject your app!!"

You do realise what the Gestapo actually did to people don't you?

Can I ask if you have had an app rejected by Apple?

Do you know anyone personally that has had an app rejected by Apple?

Do really think Apple rejects apps on a random basis? Why would they do such a thing?

It seems to me that a lot of really pompous froth has been generated by a small group of geeky malcontents about Apple's system of approving or rejecting apps. Meanwhile out in the real world Apple has sold TWO BILLION apps (think about that figure for a moment). It looks to me like Apple know what they are doing.

Give it up, relax, give in to the inevitable - buy an iPhone and start having some phun

quote: You do realise what the Gestapo actually did to people don't you?

Yeah, I watched Hogan's Heroes as a kid. But seriously, you're blowing this way out of proportion. I'm sorry you are so much in love with Apple that you are blinded by their evil behavior. I have two iPhones and I like them both, but I call it as I see it. Apple is evil to the core!

Absolutely! And I think it goes even further than that.- Restricting iPhone users to the iTurd software. Why can't I just attach my phone to Win7 and drop files onto the hard drive?- Restricting Bluetooth communication between two phones. I have two iPhones and I can't even link them up!

And that is just a few.

Tony's an Apple Zealot that goes around on other boards and ridicules anyone who trash talks Apple. He's using standard Apple Kool-Aid tactics to belittling his opponents and twist their words for his argumentative satisfaction.

All I have to say to Tony is that he needs to lay off the Kool-Aid; it is effecting his hormones. He's way too emotional for a real guy!

quote: Tony's an Apple Zealot that goes around on other boards and ridicules anyone who trash talks Apple. He's using standard Apple Kool-Aid tactics to belittling his opponents and twist their words for his argumentative satisfaction.

All I have to say to Tony is that he needs to lay off the Kool-Aid; it is effecting his hormones. He's way too emotional for a real guy!

I think that seriously comparing a administrative business process such as iPhone app approval to the tactics used by the Gestapo is being emotional. I just asked for, and didn't get, some justification for such a ludicrous statement. I think that making such a ridiculous statement about the Gestapo in relation to Apple app approval is being way too emotional and I simply pointed out the absurd nature of such a claim.

By the way - and this is genuine question from someone in the UK who maybe doesn't get the relevant cultural references - but what is a Kool-Aid tactic?

Only if you're talking about computers, and these tablets, with their different interface and form factor sound more like a new niche (or if anything closer to PDA's) than full fledged computers. Much like a smartphone isn't considered the same as a computer.

I don't why I'm bothering to reply to a post from someone who feels the need to remind himself (and everyone else) that he's picked the "right" horse because the marketshares say so. Does that mean everyone should only choose to drive GM or Toyota vehicles? Or only drink Coca-cola? Is there something inherently wrong with competition?

"I don't why I'm bothering to reply to a post from someone who feels the need to remind himself (and everyone else) that he's picked the "right" horse because the marketshares say so."

I was more referring to the idiocy of the comment "stealing thunder" in the first place. Tablets from anyone are a niche market - its not going to take off for anyone. I personally like Apple. They are a good alternative and keep MS on their toes. I love the iPhone, mostly because it forced the entire rest of the industry to raise their games on the UI - all others were severely lacking.